There were a multitude of budget presentations made at the recent Roslyn School Board meeting. The 2014-15 budgets for Facilities and Operations, Transportation, Curriculum & Instruction and co-curricular activities were all presented and explained to the public.
Assistant to the Superintendent of Operations, Kevin Carpenter, explained the necessary costs and expenditures for the upkeep of all school district facilities. The total facilities budget request is $2,681,844.
“The biggest portion of our school facilities and operations cost include the electric, building supplies and repair to buildings,” said Carpenter. “Other expenses include natural gas costs, fuel costs and contract and professional services.”
He said that the Facilities Department was currently looking to buy new equipment including floor machines for polishing and buffing school floors, walkie-talkie radios for staff members, a new security vehicle and a 20 yard storage container.
Transportation Supervisor, David Shoob said that the total proposed budget for the 2014-15 school years is $1,392,717 excluding salaries and equipment. This is an increase of $73,375, (1.75 percent) compared to the 2013-14 school year. The total budget including salaries for 2014-15 is $4,336,250 compared to $4,310,311 for 2013-14.
“The budget includes provisions for the lease purchase of three vans and two large buses replacing five current vehicles for our fleet,” said Shoob.
Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum & Instruction, Allison Brown gave an overview of school programs.
All 9th-12th grade students will have iPads and that the devices will be implemented at the Elementary school level. District officials said the cost of an iPad for each student is $600.
The Teachers College Reading & Writing Project which includes K-8 Reading & Writing Workshop and K-1 Fundations Phonics Program will continue on with a total cost of $235,000.
“The majority of the cost is paid for out of Federal Grant money,” said Brown.
Other programs include Character Education, Project Lead the Way, China Summer Experience and Professional Development Common Core.
High School Principal Scott Andrews and Middle School Principal Jack Palmadesso explained the costs that go into making up the Co-Curricular Activities budget.
“With stipends, field trips, supplies, memberships, chaperones for activities and co-curricular contraction costs the total budget for 2014-15 is $360,119.00,” said Andrews.
Roslyn Middle School has 19 clubs and activities including the Mural Club, Youth against Cancer, Select Instrumental Ensemble, Lego Robotics and the World Language Club.
Total costs in the activities budget including stipends, field trips, supplies, memberships and chaperones for activities is $96,032.
